Family mourns loss of Bradenton hit-and-run victim

Barbara Mortimer was asleep last Friday night in her Miami home when the call came. Her ex-husband, Eugene Williams, said he was sorry. He had some bad news.

“I asked him, ‘What happened to Eugene?’ and he said, ‘Eugene was hit by a car and he’s dead,’” the 47-year-old said.

Mortimer’s 24-year-old son, Eugene J. Williams Jr., was struck and killed while trying to walk across State Road 70 in Bradenton about 10:27 p.m. May 26, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. After being struck by a vehicle west of the intersection with 15th Street East, the Bradenton resident was run over by three other vehicles. Only the first and fourth drivers stayed on the scene, according to a news release.

Troopers are looking for two hit-and-run drivers.

“Whoever hit my son and left him on the side of the road don’t know what they did to me because me and my son had a bond,” Mortimer said Thursday, letting out anguished cries. “I watch the news and I see the pain that families go through when people hit someone and just leave them and, to know that now my son is one of those victims, people need to understand that it’s hurtful ... that it’s very hurtful.”

Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Gregory Bueno said an investigation is being conducted by FHP's Traffic Homicide Unit.

Williams attempted to cross from the north side of State Road 70 to the south, according to troopers. He was hit in the right westbound lane of State Road 70.

As the investigation continues, the devastated Mortimer is left grappling with her eldest son’s death. Williams was loved by many, his mother said. Some called him Gene, while Mortimer preferred to call her son Jerome — his middle name.

The players of the Manatee YMCA Seahawks called him “Coach.”

“Rest in Peace Coach E.J. You will be greatly missed by all of us,” read a post on the league’s Facebook page accompanied by a smiling Williams in a Florida Gators hat. Parents and others who knew him left behind a trail of prayers and comments.

“He made such a difference inspiring youth and will be greatly missed,” wrote one woman.

Greg Buffkin, who runs the football and basketball Manatee Seahawks programs, said Williams was a volunteer coach.

“It’s pretty sad news because he was such a happy guy. I’d never seen Gene when he was mad or upset,” he said. “He took everything in stride and always had a smile on his face. ... That Facebook picture has now been seen by over 19,000 people. It just tells you what kind of person he was.”

Sharon Townsend, Williams’ sister, said she’s really hurt. When her mother called her with the news, Townsend said she threw her phone and ran into the bathroom, where she rocked back and forth for some time.

“I was in shock mode,” she said. “Yesterday, I was in Publix and I closed my eyes and all I see was his face and I started crying.”

People understand if it’s just an accident, Mortimer said after some thought.

“You need to understand that that’s someone’s child,” she added, her voice taking on a firm tone. “The person that hit someone and leaves them, how would they feel if they were to get a call that someone just hit their child and left them like that? I see more people show more compassion for animals that get hit and left on the side of the road, but you can hit a human being and just go live your life like it’s OK, like (there’s) nothing wrong with it.”

This story was originally published June 2, 2016 at 5:40 PM with the headline "Family mourns loss of Bradenton hit-and-run victim."